How to Stop a Dog Chewing

Chewing is a completely normal behaviour for dogs, though it becomes a problem when it involves shoes, furniture, or curtains. The goal isn’t to stop chewing altogether, but to ensure your dog chews the right things.

Dogs don’t understand the emotional or financial value of your belongings. They explore the world through their mouths, chew to relieve teething discomfort, and find chewing naturally calming.

Our approach to how to stop a dog chewing involves two key methods: teaching and managing. The method you use depends on whether your dog is being supervised or left alone.

Step 1: Understand Supervision in Dog Training

Supervision doesn’t mean being in the same room; it means being present and paying attention. Watching your dog interact with their surroundings helps you guide their learning process.

A dog can’t distinguish between your slippers and their own toy, except by scent. Items carrying a strong human smell are often more appealing, which is why personal belongings are frequent targets.

During this learning stage, provide a variety of safe chew toys made from different materials. When your dog chews the correct item, use a calm, gentle tone and, if appropriate, stroke them softly. Chewing itself is rewarding for a dog, but pairing it with calm praise reinforces that they are making the right choice.

Step 2: Redirect When Your Dog Chews the Wrong Thing

At some point, your dog will investigate and begin to chew something they shouldn’t. Don’t intervene immediately if they’re just sniffing, if they move away on their own, praise that choice.

However, if they put their mouth or teeth on the item, change your tone and energy, pairing a firm voice with movement to herd them away from it. Dogs naturally understand noise and spatial pressure as communication.

Once they’ve moved away, switch back to a calm, positive tone. After a short pause, offer a suitable chew toy and praise them for using it. This redirection teaches what is acceptable to chew.

Step 3: Use Supervised “Failure” to Teach Boundaries

Knowing your dog’s weaknesses can help with how to stop a dog chewing. If there’s a particular item they’re drawn to like slippers or tea towels, use it for training.

Spray the item with a safe, dog-friendly anti-chew spray, then place it near a toy your dog enjoys. The unpleasant taste should deter them, encouraging them to choose the toy instead. If the deterrent works, allow them to make the choice without intervention, then calmly praise them for chewing the correct item.

Step 4: Prevent Chewing When You Can’t Supervise

We can’t always be there to supervise, we need to work, rest, and sleep. Preventing unwanted chewing is as much about protecting your belongings as it is about keeping your dog safe from harmful items such as electrical wires.

Crate training is an effective way to manage this. Dogs are naturally drawn to den-like spaces, and with proper training, they will see the crate as a safe, secure place. As your dog learns what they can and cannot chew, you can give them more freedom when unsupervised.

Step 5: Stay Calm and Avoid Punishment

If your dog destroys something valuable, it’s tempting to get angry, but it won’t help. Once the damage is done, it can’t be undone, and in most cases, the real issue is lack of supervision or management.

Instead, focus on prevention, supervision, and positive redirection. Consistency is key when learning how to stop a dog chewing, and over time, your dog will understand what is acceptable to chew.